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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

beauty worries!

74 replies

pammily · 29/09/2004 17:38

I am worried about my db seeing me without make-up during childbirth. I do tend to wear it quite heavy, so should be OK, but would be grateful for any tips for keeping it in place. Also it would be good to know if there is any point during childbirth where medical staff might want to remove it against my will - should I mention to my midwife that I would not want this to be done?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Beetroot · 29/09/2004 18:20

This reply has been deleted

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pammily · 29/09/2004 18:21

Many thanks for your comments. My dp hasn't seen me without my make-up on hense my worries. Maybe I am being naive and it is something that will be forgotten about once I get to hospital, but the thought of others being there as well does cause me concern.

OP posts:
Yorkiegirl · 29/09/2004 18:23

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hana · 29/09/2004 18:24

pammily - my sisters both have their eyelashes tinted, I think you can also have your eyebrows done too? So maybe you can do that.
Good luck with the birth, I hope you don't worry too much about your makeup, you'll have the glow of a new mummy shining through anyways!!

Yorkiegirl · 29/09/2004 18:24

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tammybear · 29/09/2004 18:25

trust me, when you have your baby in your arms, nothing else will matter

codswallop · 29/09/2004 18:28

pamiily
sorry was flippant
beetroot is right

( she growls)

Bagpuss30 · 29/09/2004 18:30

well I have to admit that I must be the superwoman that lydialemon is talking about then. When the midwife came out to see me after dd's birth I opened the door dressed and made up and with newborn snuggling in my arms. She took one look and said "well I can see you are alright Mrs Bagpuss, you have make-up on". Two years later with a toddler and a pre-schooler running me ragged there's a different story.......

codswallop · 29/09/2004 18:30

with ds 1 I did do my nails before so they looked nice int he "baby holding shots"
mind you labour was a bit mroe than I had reckoned on and that was by the by in the end

Bagpuss30 · 29/09/2004 18:31

Baby holding shots?, lol Coddy you are funny .

codswallop · 29/09/2004 18:32

i wasnt after in the throws of post natal depression! far from it!

littlemissbossy · 29/09/2004 18:32

yes sorry pammily for not believing you
(hands been slapped, hangs head in shame)

beansprout · 29/09/2004 18:45

Pammily - when are you due?

I'm due next week - anyone know where I could get a stunt double at short notice?

lydialemon · 29/09/2004 18:50

hester - natural born beauty?! More like no amount of make up would actually be enough!

littlemissbossy · 29/09/2004 18:50

sorry beansprout, no offers from me

pupuce · 29/09/2004 18:50

Pammily... if it is a big issue to you... an epidural will allow you not to "sweat" too much as you won't have much/any pain.
Ideally you shouldn't have any nail varnish SHOULD you need a section... it would be taken away !
I agree with Hester's suggestions.

JoolsToo · 29/09/2004 19:13

don't bother - even the heaviest make-up will be washed away with sweat by the time you've finished!

motherinferior · 29/09/2004 19:31

I had my lashes tinted the day before Dd2 was born. And indeed, a haircut 15 hours before she was born.

(I am so not the pouting babe, thank heavens this is cyberspace!)

Pammily, please don't worry too much about looking unkempt or undignified in front of your dp. Childbirth does tend to involve things that maybe you wouldn't want everyone to see (personally, I'd include an elective C-section there, too, although I know other posters wouldn't). Small babies do, too. The first six weeks of your baby's life tend not to be your most gorgeous - even if you manage to put your face on every day!

When's the baby? How exciting! Congratulations.

aloha · 29/09/2004 20:20

Pammily, do you think you are ugly without makeup? Do you wear an awful lot of makeup? I ask because sometimes this can be a symptom of an obsessive/compulsive disorder called Body Dysmorphic Disorder. I may be speaking completely out of turn, but I just wondered if the desire to wear makeup is preying on your mind a lot and this is a really serious worry for you, then counselling can help. Ignore this if you really think it's rubbish, but it was my first thought on reading your post.
I wore mascara and lipgloss for my caesarian!

Tinker · 29/09/2004 20:28

pammily - I understand completely. As soon as my contractions started properly I slapped on more make-up to see me through - and I didn't even have a partner! If I were you now though, I'd started toning down your make up slightly so you feel comfortable with your partner seeing you with less on. Your partner prob won't notice you've got none on, just that look a bit 'tired' or not well

Angeliz · 29/09/2004 20:34

Have to admit that in the morning after pics with me and dd, (at the hospital) i had a touch of make-up on. (from what i can remember).
People can never believe i've just given birth on that photo and who am i to shatter their illusions???

Seriously though pammily, we all worry about different things so if this is a concern, check with the midwife.
I have to say, my biggest comcern was loads of people standing inbetween my legs waiting and i requested to have a sheet placed strategically over my lower half at all times. (I am VERY body shy at times.
Try not to worry too much and i know you won't believe us at the moment, but it's honestly not the end of the world, once that baby is out and in your arms, that will overtake any embarrasment you feel or felt.

Best of luck++++++++++

collision · 29/09/2004 20:46

One of my worries was how I was going to look in the photos after the birth and I insisted that anyone who took photos only took black and white ones! I looked fab!! Even skin tone, very knackered but b and w are the way to go!!

acnebride · 29/09/2004 21:08

Pammily, very best wishes and I hope you look fantastic throughout. You could always decide not to have your dp at the birth if you would rather not - it's not compulsory?

sorry if you've already thought this through.

i think taking time for yourself after the birth is a really good idea - if putting makeup on during that time is what you want to do then cool.

Branster · 29/09/2004 21:33

I have to admit that my first reaction on reading this question here was: WTF??!!

But really, it is a good idea you've got this fixation with make-up because you'll have something else to concentrate on and take your mind of things whilst in there.

as hester well said, try and keep it minimal to avoid smudges.

another more or less valid alternative is theatre make-up, if you can get hold of some I expect is quite hard-wearing and comes in all colours and shades.

or use your normal colours but buy the really wear-proof versions of them if you can find that anywhere.

BUT remember to take your make-up bag with you, a good mirror, make-up removing wipes (easier than messing about with cleansers) and a facial spray (Evian do one I believe).

also, lighting in hospitals is awful, so you might think your make-up is OK when you look in the mirror but people around you might not.

and whatever you do, don't use any fragrance (even if you want to keep up your full maintenance routine)around the baby for the first few weeks. the same goes for new daddy.

oh, you'll look lovely, believe me. all the natural occurring hormones, adrenaline, happiness will make you look wonderful. it's all natural.

good luck with the birth pammily!

bugaboo · 29/09/2004 22:36

This is fantastic!!! I have the same problem. I still have visions of what Michelle Fowler in Eastenders looked like after she had her baby and that scares me! So pammily - tell me what you end up doing and what works for you. I freaking out about greasy hair I know I'll have.